At the time, the Rebels were holding onto an outside hope that the talented defensive end from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College would be able to enroll in January 2009.

That didn't work out, and Dorsey spent another season at Perkinston. However, the relationship that was developed during those trying times paid off handsomely for Ole Miss on Sunday.

Dorsey, a 6-foot-8, 255-pound four-star prospect ranked as the nation's No. 15 junior college prospect by Rivals.com, committed to Ole Miss on Sunday, choosing the Rebels over Florida State, North Carolina and others. A December graduate, Dorsey can sign with the Rebels this week and enroll at Ole Miss in January.

"I liked everything I saw," said Dorsey, a Baltimore, Md., native who took an official visit to Ole Miss in mid-October and returned for an unofficial visit this weekend. "I didn't see anything negative about Ole Miss. They definitely told me I can fit right in as a starter. That was pretty much it. They're losing three ends to graduation and they need an older guy to step in and play.

"Everything they do, I could see me doing that right now. Just having the freedom to go get the quarterback and make something happen, the stunts they run, I like it, man. I definitely see myself fitting right into that scheme."

With defensive ends Marcus Tillman, Emmanuel Stephens and Greg Hardy all preparing for their final college game on Jan. 2 in the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic against Oklahoma State, Dorsey will be counted on to push for the starting job opposite Kentrell Lockett next season. Dorsey recently described himself as a players "who demands attention and who makes plays in the passing game. A guy with swagger and a guy who brings energy to the team. I think I bring energy to any team that I go to. A positive energy, a working energy, that is just contagious."

Despite missing time with a minor knee injury, Dorsey rolled up 30 tackles and five sacks for MGCCC (9-3).

Dorsey also picked up offers from Iowa State, Michigan, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, South Florida, Tulsa, Tennessee and Southern Miss. However, Ole Miss seemed to stand out from the beginning.

Ole Miss was my first offer, so I guess I respect that more," said Dorsey, whose recruiting to Ole Miss was chaired by wide receivers coach Ron Dickerson Jr. "They were the first to recognize my talent and recognize what I can do at a high level."

Dorsey will be joined at Ole Miss next month by his MGCCC teammate, free safety Damien Jackson, who committed to Ole Miss last month.